If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Please note that posts from new users are now moderated. If you have just joined this forum and post a new message it will be held in the moderation queue until a member of staff approves it. Please be patient and our staff will review your submission as soon as possible.

Re: Grammatical function

Clauses like "I think", "I suppose" are subject-verb combinations referred to as comment clauses defined as parenthetical disjuncts that may occur "initially, finally, or medially, and thus generally have a separate tone unit."

Re: Grammatical function

a)

1. They shot him in [what appears to be] a gangland killing.
2. [What appears to be], they shot him in a gangland killing.
3. They [what appears to be] shot him in a gangland killing.
4. They shot him in a gangland [what appears to be] killing.
5. They shot him in a gangland killing [what appears to be].

b)

[What appears to be] -> What - subject; appears to be - predicate.

c)
We use it at the beggining, in the middie and at the end of the sentence without any problems and be also say it with different intonation.

Re: Grammatical function

Originally Posted by coolpro

a)

1. They shot him in [what appears to be] a gangland killing.
2. [What appears to be], they shot him in a gangland killing.
3. They [what appears to be] shot him in a gangland killing.
4. They shot him in a gangland [what appears to be] killing.
5. They shot him in a gangland killing [what appears to be].

b)

[What appears to be] -> What - subject; appears to be - predicate.

c)
We use it at the beggining, in the middie and at the end of the sentence without any problems and be also say it with different intonation.

1. They shot him in [what appears to be] a gangland killing.
2. [What appears to be], they shot him in a gangland killing. Wrong
3. They [what appears to be] shot him in a gangland killing. Wrong
4. They shot him in a gangland [what appears to be] killing. Wrong
5. They shot him in a gangland killing [what appears to be]. Wrong

Re: Grammatical function

Even if I'm wrong, I'm glad I'm doing this. English is my bailiwick, and it's my obligation to delve into as much English as possible. But I have to admit this stuff is pretty intense. It always is, no matter what language we are dealing with.

Re: Grammatical function

"They shot in that which appears to be a gangland killing." 'What' = 'That which".
"They shot him in a killing (a situation, an event) which appears to be a gangland killing."
To me, the function is to qualify "killing". I'd call it an adjectival clause, though I could be wrong.

PS: "They shot him in an apparent gangland killing." 'Apparent' is an adjective.

Re: Grammatical function

Originally Posted by coolpro

I bet there is no absolute agreement on the grammar terms in the English language.

No, often there isn't. Language is an imperfect human invention. People choose to describe it in different ways, and there is no central authority in English that determines how you can describe a string of words and how you can't.
Maybe you could do this with Lithuanian, but English is too wide-spread to police.

Re: Grammatical function

I bet there is no absolute agreement on the grammar terms in the English language.

And I'm facing to the fact that most English teachers have small knowledge of the deepest grammar topics.

Not only English. I bet almost all those who work at our private school have no idea about such profound things. We are slowly losing those teachers who used to love this stuff. There is basically even no need to know this stuff. I get paid to teach someone to speak natural English so that they can use it in everyday life. Only some individuals, like myself and you and some professional linguists, do evince a disposition to study something as recondite and abstruse. Personally, I'd focus on enriching my vocabulary, of course, provided that I have become comfortable with grammar already. There is something about English that is so majestic and magnificent. I can't put it in words.